There are many things in the world to inspire awe, so selecting a handful for this post is a challenge. Of course, I could go with something in nature. I’ve been on hikes where I’ve been awestruck by the view of a mountain peak so close it felt like I could reach out and touch it.

I often feel absurdly pleased when an animal “likes” me — especially if it’s an animal that doesn’t typically like people. You know, like the dog that comes over with her tail wagging and the owner says, “Oh, Abby doesn’t usually like men.”

When I first moved to Washington from the Midwest, I was fascinated by the big bumps in the land called mountains. Naturally, I wanted to try my hand at hiking in them, so I got the name of a good trail from a co-worker and set out with two visiting Midwesterners. In other words, we were three noobs setting out into the wilderness.